Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his address to the nation on Sunday in the 40th edition of his radio show – Mann Ki Baat – hailed the contribution of Indian women in the economy and the society. He also remembered Indian-born American astronaut Kalpana Chawla, who died in the Columbia Space Shuttle Crash on February 1, 2003.

Speaking further, Modi, spoke about Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman who recently flew in a Sukhoi-30MKI, the tribal women in Dantewada, Chhatisgarh, who drive e-rickshaws in Maoists dominated areas and the women staffers who run the Matunga station in Mumbai. He hailed ‘Nari Shakti’ as he also mentioned the women bikers from BSF who took part in the recently concluded Republic Day parade.

Apart from women achievers, PM Modi also spoke about the Padma awards and some awardees. He said that now the process of nomination of Padma awards has become more transparent.